Your Take on War with Iraq

March 16, 2003

Assume, for a moment, that the U.S. goes to war in Iraq. What's your view on the following questions that swirl around such a scenario? As always, this is an unscientific survey, since anyone who wishes to can participate. With that caveat, please tell us what you think.

How justified will the U.S., Britain, and Spain be to attack Iraq without the explicit approval of the U.N. Security Council?

Very justified

Somewhat justfied

Justified enough to go war

Not very justified

Not justified at all

Not sure

Which of the following reasons that the Bush Administration has given for going to war do you think makes the most sense? (Please choose one):

To find and destroy Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction

To ensure U.S. access to Middle East oil

To liberate the Iraqi people from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein

To prevent terrorism against the U.S.

To force regime change

Other

None

How likely do you think it is that another month or two of U.N.

inspections would achieve the objective you chose in the previous question?

Very likely

Somewhat likely

Neither more likely or less

Somewhat unlikely

Not likely at all

Don't know

Once the war is concluded, how important do you think it will be for the U.S. to provide the world with a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction?

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Unimportant

Not sure

How long can war go on before you'll feel that it's taking too long?

A few days

A few weeks

Two months or more

Six months or more

Not sure

How many U.S. and British soldiers can be killed in the war before you'll feel that casualties are too high?

Any

Dozens

Hundreds

Thousands

Not sure

How many Iraqi civilians can be killed in the war before you'll feel that too many have died?

Any

Dozens

Hundreds

Thousands

Not sure

Do you think the war will make terrorism in the U.S.:

Much less likely

Less likely

Neither less nor more likely

More likely

Much more likely

Don't know

How prepared do you think the Bush Administration is to intercept/head off terrorism in the U.S.?

Very prepared

Somewhat prepared

Prepared enough

Not prepared enough

Totally unprepared

Not sure

What's an acceptable amount for the U.S. to spend on the war?

Nothing

No more than $10 billion

No more than $50 billion

No more than $100 billion

No more than $200 billion

More than $200 billion

Don't know

Once the war is over, how long should the U.S. maintain an occupational force in Iraq?

Less than six months

Up to one year

Up to two years

Up to three years

Up to four years

More than four years

Don't know

Over the long term, what effect do you think a non-U.N.-sanctioned war in Iraq will have on relations between the U.S. and its allies including France, Germany, Russia, and China that now oppose the Bush Administration's desire to attack? Relations between the U.S. and its allies will:

Improve significantly

Improve somewhat

Remain unchanged

Deteriorate somewhat

Deteriorate significantly

Not sure

Over the long term, what effect do you think a war in Iraq will have on relations between Americans and citizens of other countries? Relations between the two will:

Improve significantly

Improve somewhat

Remain unchanged

Deteriorate somewhat

Deteriorate significantly

Not sure

Up to this point, how would you rate the Bush Administration's handling of the Iraqi crisis?

Very good

Good

So-so

Not very good

Bad

Not sure

In his public comments on the Iraq crisis, President Bush frequently mentions his religion. How instrumental do you think his Christian beliefs are in his decision to attack or not? His beliefs are:

A major factor in favor or an attack

Some factor in favor of an attack

A neutral factor

Some factor against an attack

A major factor against an attack

Not sure

Taking into account everything you know about the Iraq crisis, do you feel that a war at this time is:

Very necessary

Somewhat necessary

Somewhat unnecessary

Unnecessary

Don't know

Assuming that the U.S. prevails quickly in Iraq, do you think the effect on the U.S. economy will be:

Very positive

Somewhat positive

Neutral

Somewhat negative

Very negative

Not sure

If the U.S. prevails quickly in Iraq, what would the effect be on your spending plans for the next six months? Would you:

Be likely to spend a lot more

Be likely to spend somewhat more

Not change your spending plans

Be likely to spend somewhat less

Be likely to spend a lot less

Not sure

If the U.S. prevails quickly in Iraq, what effect would it have on your investing plans? Would you:

Be very likely to buy stocks

Be somewhat likely to buy stocks

Not change your investing plans

Be somewhat less likely to buy stocks

Be much less likely to buy stocks

Not sure

Do you live:

In the U.S.

In another country

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